Black Surrender (A Kelly Black Affair Book 7)

by C. J. Thomas

  “You should have waited, Kelly.”

  “I couldn’t,” I said, mentioning my conversation with Mayor Bentley before meeting with Stone. “Someone acted on Stone’s behalf and we need to find out who.”

  “Shit. The mayor really said he thought it came from us?”

  “Make no mistake, something larger is at play, and we need to figure out what it is before Stone is released and put back on the street.”

  31

  Kendra

  My head was in the clouds when I left Dr. Hall’s office. I couldn’t recall our parting words, or if I even acknowledged the receptionist and confirmed my next appointment. All I could focus on were the events that led me to where I was today and how Dr. Hall seemed to believe I could emerge through the brush unscathed.

  I lengthened my stride and headed toward my parked car.

  Dr. Hall wasn’t just saying what I wanted to hear. She was giving reasons to my decisions and I knew she was right. We discussed more about my suicidal thoughts, and how Kelly mistakenly triggered my rape. Most importantly, she convinced me that I held the control—was the captain of my own ship.

  Aiming the key fob to the front hood, the car lights flashed as it beeped unlocked.

  I was carrying everyone’s weight as if it were my own. It was a burden I had been dragging most of my life. Even during the years I’d run from it, it was still there, lurking in the depths of my mind, waiting for the opportunity to surface. Unfortunately, the man I loved brought it out and released my demons onto the world.

  Settling into the driver’s seat, my gaze caught the letter from Dad.

  I had a choice to make. Choose to suffocate in my self-imposed prison of misery and continue to suffer, or forgive and finally set the emotions free that kept me from truly being my greatest self. As difficult as it was for me to even entertain the idea of forgiving my parents—especially my father—I wanted to break free from the shackles of my past even more. I didn’t have to let my past—that experience—define me.

  Feeling calm, I wanted to call Alex if only to thank her for recommending a brilliant woman like Dr. Hall. Dr. Hall didn’t talk above me or below me, she talked at me like an equal and I was beginning to see her as a friend.

  My cell started ringing. Alex beat me to the punch. “I was just about to call,” I said, smiling.

  Alex was barely coherent as her voice cracked through the phone. I felt my eyebrows pull together as I listened to her hysterics. I tried to get in a word, but couldn’t. She couldn’t stop crying. And, as frustration quickly turned to concern, I was worried something was wrong with her baby. “Alex, slow down. I can’t understand you.”

  “I need to see you,” Alex said.

  I told her where, and twenty minutes later I was sitting alone at a table at a prominent restaurant on Rodeo Drive. On the phone, Alex refused to tell me anything, insisting I needed to hear it in person. Now I wished I hadn’t acted so quickly. I always hated to be the first to arrive.

  My gut wrenched with worry, I couldn’t stop tapping my toes. My mind swirled into a dizzying array of fear. I needed to forgive. Stirring my straw around the cubes of ice in my glass, I stared out the window with wide eyes that were void of spirit.

  I caught Alex pushing her way through the crowd of pedestrians. Her face was red and her eyes puffy. It was clear she had been crying.

  I met her at the front door with a hug waiting. She wrapped her arms around me and constricted her muscles like a snake. When she finally let me go, I looked her in the eye. Alex did a wonderful job at masking her stress with an added layer of makeup. She looked beautiful, but would have even without it.

  “You all right?” I asked.

  Her bottom lip quivered as she shook her head.

  Seating her at my table, the waitress arrived. I ordered Alex a glass of water and two turkey wraps to-go while she just sat there, staring out the window, stuck inside her head.

  “I saw Nash,” I said.

  Alex flipped her head around and tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “What is going on with Nash? He said he was at Kelly’s, and you were there, too.”

  “It’s true.”

  She shook her head. “Why did he go there first before coming home? He’s not telling me anything.” She locked her gaze on me. “I’m so worried about him.”

  “I didn’t tell him about your secret.”

  “Did Kelly?”

  I fell back in my chair. “Alex, baby, Nash was with the cops.”

  The corners of Alex’s eyes twitched with sudden pain as she grabbed her belly. It was still flat but we both knew there was a fetus—her child—growing inside. “I thought this was over.”

  Tipping forward, I found myself stirring the ice around my cup again. “The way I understand it, the police are only tying up loose ends.” I glanced up to my friend. “Just as they came to speak with you, they needed to hear Nash’s side of the story.”

  “Did he tell you this?”

  My empty stomach ballooned. “No.”

  Alex flicked her gaze outside. “I know it’s something more. I can feel it.”

  She didn’t have to say it, because we both already knew what Wes and Nash had done to move Maria’s body. The thought alone made me want to vomit. I couldn’t imagine having to witness our men get arrested for something as stupid as that.

  Shoving her hands through her hair, Alex tugged at the roots and growled.

  “Hey.” I skirted the table and draped my arm around her. “Easy. We’ll get through this,” I said, knowing that if the entire world imploded we’d always have each other.

  She turned and set her round wet eyes on me. “I just need this to end.”

  Feeling my throat constrict, I said, “It’s going to take some time.”

  Alex sniffed back her tears and wiped her cheeks dry just as our wraps were served. I squared up our bill, leaving a generous tip, and left the restaurant to walk.

  We meandered down the sidewalk, eating our wraps. I teased Alex by how fast she finished hers. She blamed it on the pregnancy and when I asked where she parked, she said, “I didn’t drive. I took an Uber.”

  It made me think of Lucky and the times we’d shared. Soon, I finished my wrap, and Alex was thanking me for not asking to eat at Wes’s place, Mojito. “I wouldn’t dare,” I said, a disgusted expression moving across my face.

  Alex laughed and said, “I love Wes, but I can’t help but feel that he’s part of Nash’s troubles.”

  I turned and faced her. Holding her hands, I felt the tips of her fingers throb against mine. “The men have a plan,” I assured her. “It’s our job to support them.”

  She wet her lips and glanced up the street. The breeze caught her hair just as the reflection shined in her mirrored sunglasses. She looked incredible—scared, but flawless. Then she turned back to me. “It’s the baby I’m worried about. Kendra, I can’t go nine months having to stress about whether or not I’ll be having to raise this baby alone.”

  “I know.” I palmed her face and kissed her forehead. “No matter what, you’ll always have me.” She laughed and held my hand as we continued to walk. It wasn’t long before we passed a children’s clothing store. “We have to go inside,” I said.

  Alex hesitated and stared. “I still haven’t told Nash.”

  “He doesn’t need to know that we had fun shopping for his baby.” I pulled on her arm as she gave me a funny look. “What?” I asked.

  “Whatever Dr. Hall is prescribing you,” she looked at me sideways, “is definitely working.”

  32

  Kendra

  I inserted the key and turned over the engine before cranking the air conditioning up.

  Alex was in the passenger seat riffling through the heavy bag of baby clothes. “I just can’t get enough. How adorable is this?” She turned to me and held up a gender-neutral outfit.

  I smiled at the cute little onesie. “It’s precious.”

  She flapped it straight and held it out i
n front of her face. Her cheeks glowed as I watched her eyes stare with hidden disbelief that this was actually happening. I was happy for her—perhaps even a little jealous.

  I’d surprised myself in the store, finding myself completely immersed in the experience of shopping for a baby. The clothes were cute and stylish, everything from onesies to booties. Alex purchased a dozen, and I doubled it by paying for another dozen.

  “Next, we’ll have to go shopping for you,” I said.

  Alex groaned and rolled her eyes. “That’s what I’m afraid of.”

  “You’re going to be one of those pregnant women who are drop-dead gorgeous.” My hand fell to her shoulder.

  She flicked her gaze to me. “Or I’ll just bloat like a beached whale.”

  “No way. Not you. You have an amazing figure.” I tucked her hair behind her ear. We both laughed.

  Alex dropped her gaze back to the pile of clothes on her lap. “I’m totally going to turn into one of those women I’ve always despised, always talking about babies, documenting my pregnancy and posting pictures of every little thing my kid does on all my social media accounts.”

  “And I’ll like every single post,” I said, thinking back to how I mentioned to Kelly that I wanted to also be a mother. Just watching Alex deal with the hormones, the simple joys she received when thinking about her future self, I wanted to not only to be right alongside my best friend, sharing the journey with her, but also to give Kelly and me something bigger than ourselves to focus on. “You need to tell Nash,” I said.

  Alex closed up the last bag and murmured, “I will.”

  Angling my body toward her, I said, “Like, soon.”

  She nodded. “I know.”

  “Hey, don’t blame him.” My hand circled between her shoulder blades. “As long as we’re all telling the same story, nothing is going to happen.”

  Alex closed her eyes and nodded. Then she turned to me. “How are things with your parents?”

  I pulled my hand back and turned my head forward. Gazing out the front windshield, I said, “Everyone who has read my father’s note can see that he is asking for my forgiveness.” Alex asked who else had seen the letter. I told her and continued, “But the more times I read it, the less I believe they’re actually his words.” I rolled my head to the side and looked at Alex.

  “You think it was your mom who wrote it?”

  I nodded. “I do.”

  We sat in silence for a long time, each retreating into our own thoughts. Which was fine by me. I wasn’t looking for sympathy. Alex knew it, too. We were orphans to a world that didn’t play nice. All I was after was closure. How that would come to be, I wasn’t certain.

  “So, what if you decide not to rejoin your family—”

  My brows shot up. “Coming from the girl who insisted I make peace?”

  “That was before I knew the entire story.”

  “Not so clear cut, is it?”

  Alex smirked. “Just start your own. It sounds easier.”

  We both laughed and tangled ourselves into a hug. Promising each other that we were family no matter what, I pulled back and mentioned how I’d told Kelly about wanting to be a mother.

  Alex’s head jerked back.

  “You can say it. It’s okay.”

  She sucked her parted lips into her mouth. “Say what? That I’m happy for you and you totally should?”

  My head fell to the side. “Or that you never would have expected to hear those words coming out of my mouth.”

  “You’re right.” Alex giggled. “But please, please, get pregnant.”

  I tossed my head back and laughed. Buckling up, I put the car in reverse and backed out of the parking space, telling her how fun it would be to raise our children together. Of course she agreed.

  “Then if our men ever leave us, we could just move in together,” Alex said. “Our kids could be like cousins.”

  Turning on the radio, we danced in our seats and sang along to the tunes playing through the speakers. The wind was in our hair and we were feeling great. When the song was over, I said, “I haven’t told him, but I want to remodel Kelly’s home and make it ours.”

  Alex’s elbow was propped up on the door and she had her fingers in her hair. “Do you think he’ll allow that?”

  “Right now, it’s full of reminders of his past life. The one he had with Nora and Patrick. When I’m there, it doesn’t feel like I belong.”

  Alex stared ahead. “It can’t be easy for him, letting go.”

  With one hand on the wheel, I drove without knowing exactly what our destination was. I supposed it didn’t matter. Here, we were free. At liberty to discuss our deepest secrets without concern anyone would overhear.

  “Kelly doesn’t know I’m going to Dr. Hall.” Alex flicked her gaze over to me. “It’s a secret and will remain so until I can orgasm again.”

  “What’s up with that?” My friend’s lips puckered.

  “Dr. Hall and I are working through it. But, Jesus, I swear it’s the most frustrating thing.”

  “Get pregnant.” Alex flattened her hand over her belly and leaned back in her seat. “I’m telling you, all I can think about is fucking Nash’s brains out.”

  I lifted a single eyebrow. “I guess you didn’t mean what you said the other day at the spa then?”

  Alex laughed. “I’ll blame the hormones.”

  Glancing in my mirrors, I smiled, imagining her hormones swinging like a tether ball around a pole while I ducked and tried not to get hit.

  Suddenly, I realized we were driving past Emmanuel’s salon. My stomach clenched and my throat closed so tightly it was difficult to swallow. I slowed the car and let my gaze drift to the entrance with thoughts turning to the day Tonya ran from Timothy Parker. It all came rushing back with the strength of a trigger. The camera lenses being pulled into car windows, the smell of Emmanuel’s slicked back greasy hair, and the sounds of Madam’s infamous cackle. I wished I knew then what I knew now. Things could have been different. Tonya could still be alive.

  “Everything okay?” Alex’s face was pale.

  Feeling the hair stand on the back of my neck, a sudden feeling like we were being followed sent a wave a chills down my spine. I glanced to the rearview mirror, recognizing a familiar car. “We’re being followed.”

  “What?” Alex flipped her head around and looked back. “Who? Are you sure?”

  I slammed on the brakes and pulled to the curb.

  “What are you doing?” Alex asked, rolling up her window and locking her door.

  “I think he wants to talk to us.”

  Alex flipped her head around and watched the scene I was watching in my mirrors. Agent Tyler Mark got out of his car and casually walked up to my window.

  “Lucky Charm,” I said with a smile.

  His lips tugged at the corners, revealing his ivory white teeth. “How long have you known I was following you?”

  “Long enough to make you curious.”

  He removed his aviator sunglasses and revealed his brown eyes. “I thought you would like to know the police picked up your uncle.”

  I felt the blood leave my face. Not knowing what to say, I let my gaze travel over the top of the steering wheel. Feeling my hands begin to tremble, I covered my mouth and stifled the threat of tears prickling the backs of my eyes.

  “We’re making progress on Madam and Oscar’s case, but, Kendra,” I turned back and faced Lucky, “encourage Kelly to speak up about what he knows.”

  Drawing my eyebrows together, I said, “He’s said everything he has to say.”

  Lucky pulled back. “Please, it’s for everyone’s benefit.”

  “Kelly is a good one. He’s not the enemy here.” I felt my heart tick to the edge of explosion as it pounded inside my chest.

  “Watch your back, Kendra. This town isn’t as nice as you may think it is.”

  “What the fuck is that supposed to mean?”

  “It means, you’re the pawn everyone is watching.�
�� He paused. “And you have the power to influence Kelly’s decisions. He can do more than what he’s doing.” Lucky flicked his eyes past me, landing his gaze on Alex.

  My palms were sweaty with worry. He knew we were hiding something. Might not know exactly what it was, but the truth always had a way of coming out. I wasn’t about to be the one to tell him. Like Alex, I just wanted this to be over. Even if that meant refusing to believe what I was being told.

  “I know you’re dating Nash.” Lucky stared at Alex. “We all know it.”

  “It’s no secret,” Alex said with a false confidence only she could pull off.

  Lucky pushed back and stepped away from the window. “Mint is a dangerous place, filled with powerful men with dark desires—”

  I rolled my head to him and scowled. “Yet you were dropping women off at Echo.”

  Lucky looked up the street.

  “Next time, if you want to speak with me, ask for Kelly’s permission first.” I cranked the engine and put the car in gear.

  “I’m here as a friend,” he said.

  I glared at him as I pulled away from the curb and shared a knowing glance with Alex. She was thinking the same as I was. Then I started hyperventilating as I knew—could see it flash across Lucky’s eyes—the authorities were hot on the trail to uncovering the truth about what happened to Maria Greer and were close to having enough evidence to make an arrest.

  33

  Kelly

  I dug through old files at the office— those that hadn’t been confiscated or had been returned—anxiously waiting to hear back from Giselle.

  Tossing papers into old folders, I riffled through everything I had in hopes of bringing attention to Stone. I needed the FBI to have him on their radar. After everything Stone had done to get himself arrested, all the evidence the state collected, it seemed impossible odds they wouldn’t have known what was so easy for Giselle and me to discover.

  I licked the pads of my fingers, paused, and lifted my gaze to the window. It was quiet, minus the sounds of my beating heart thrashing in my ears. My mind flipped back to Drake.